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How United Onboards New Users (design)

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Re: How United Onboards New Users (design)

#22
I gave up ~35 slides in.

The app wants to notify you to give you updates on flights. It's a handy feature. I've received Delta notifications 5-10 minutes before it's announced at the gates.

The "Favorite" prefilled locations are United's two major hubs. A significant amount of their travelers start out or end up at those two locations, so it is saving a lot of users time.

The location and notification messages they complain about are Apple's messages. United I'm sure would want to say something more informative.

This review is apparently based on a 10 year old's understanding of traveling and tech.

Re: How United Onboards New Users (design)

#24

I gave up ~35 slides in. The app wants to notify you to give you updates on flights. It's a handy feature. I've received Delta notifications 5-10 minutes before it's announced at the gates. The "Favorite" prefilled locations are United's two major hubs. A significant amount of their travelers start out or end up at those two locations, so it is saving a lot of users time. The location and notification messages they c…

I think the issue isn't that it's asking for notif permission at all, it's that it's asking at the wrong time. Most mobile app developers and designers should know that you wait till the moment before it's needed before asking the user, which for this case would probably be after you book a flight successfully. This is for the good of both the customer and the company. The customer actually knows what it's being used for, and the company successfully establishes a communication method with the customer for more engagement. You don't ask for notif permission right at the beginning. That's an amateur app developer mistake.

If "Favorite" is United's favorite, maybe it should be renamed "Popular". The term "Favorite" is usually used to indicate something the user set themselves.

As for location and notif permission prompts, if as an app developer you think the message isn't informative, typically you explain in your words in a custom UI prompt in your app (about why you want to send notifs) first, and when they click yes, you make the system prompt. Two steps, yes, but higher allow rates for the company, and more information for the customer. I think it's a good practice.

I don't think the review is based on a 10 year old's understanding of traveling and tech. I think it's quite valid overall.

Re: How United Onboards New Users (design)

#26
Given United Airlines' consistent poor service and arrogance for many years, it's time to dismiss the company, re-accommodate and onboard their employees (especially executive managers) to other businesses, perhaps new airlines started by people like Richard Branson.

Re: How United Onboards New Users (design)

#27
I've seen worse. The CVS Android app. In order to enter my birthday (why do you need my birthday CVS? You won't let me order alcohol in your app anyway. For those who don't know, CVS is a popular chain of liquor stores where you can also get prescriptions filled. Like a small, neighborhood Costco.) I had to click a little back arrow month by month 40 years to get to when I was born. Twice.

Re: How United Onboards New Users (design)

#28
post #15

Curious why the user didn't click back instead of on the home button around slide 70-75. It would have saved them about 50 slides or so and 10-15 minutes of real time. They clearly saw the back button later around slide 120. The micro-pessimization of looking at the account creation flow before attempting to book a flight also seemed somewhat unnecessary. While it is not an excuse for the poor design, I am not sure w…

Right, along with complaining that 'Show Nearby Airports' doesn't work when you've forbidden location services.

Usually that feature is to give flexible airport options. So if you search for SFO it will also give you OAK. Nothing to do with your current location.

Re: How United Onboards New Users (design)

#29
post #15

Curious why the user didn't click back instead of on the home button around slide 70-75. It would have saved them about 50 slides or so and 10-15 minutes of real time. They clearly saw the back button later around slide 120. The micro-pessimization of looking at the account creation flow before attempting to book a flight also seemed somewhat unnecessary. While it is not an excuse for the poor design, I am not sure w…

Right, along with complaining that 'Show Nearby Airports' doesn't work when you've forbidden location services.

The question asked was "Allow United to access your location even when you are not using the app?”. It's not clear that answering "no" would prevent the app from accessing location when you are using the app.

Re: How United Onboards New Users (design)

#30
post #24

I gave up ~35 slides in. The app wants to notify you to give you updates on flights. It's a handy feature. I've received Delta notifications 5-10 minutes before it's announced at the gates. The "Favorite" prefilled locations are United's two major hubs. A significant amount of their travelers start out or end up at those two locations, so it is saving a lot of users time. The location and notification messages they c…

I think the issue isn't that it's asking for notif permission at all, it's that it's asking at the wrong time. Most mobile app developers and designers should know that you wait till the moment before it's needed before asking the user, which for this case would probably be after you book a flight successfully. This is for the good of both the customer and the company. The customer actually knows what it's being used…

Well, the goal of the app is not just buy tickets. You can have flights out side the app that they notify you about, so I see the logic of asking for permissions when they did.
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